2016 German Grand Prix - Hockenheim, 29-31 July

[Sonador]

Besides the RB12 now being a match for the SF16-H, I think the drivers are making the difference as well. RIC is incredibly strong in qualifying, VES is almost matching him. VET used to be strong in qualy as well, but it just isn't happening, and he is making RAI look good in the process. Part of the issue can probably be linked to the Ferrari being hard to set-up, but bottom line is Red Bull as a team are doing a better job at the moment.

I have never seen a season where Vettel makes so many mistakes.
Maybe it is the pressure that comes with driving for Ferrari F1 team?
He was pretty protected/safe at RB.

Should be interessting the RB vs Ferrari battle tommorow =D>

[iotar__]

So, it's official now, that Ferrari is behind Red Bull ! On a circuit that is 60% full throttle, the difference between the faster RB and the faster Ferrari is 4 tenths. On race pace too, based on FP2, the Ferrari is behind the RB.

Red Bull had better pace during FP in Hungary but not during the race. We will see tomorrow what will happen.

Red bull had better race pace in hungary but their various strategy calls to challenge mercedes backfired on them and left them struggling for pace on old tires. At the start of the race they were pulling away from vettel with ease.

Not true at all : Vett- Ricc http://en.mclarenf-1.com/index.php?page ... 966&graf=3
- 2 s in 13 laps isn't pulling away with ease
- Not that many strategy moves with 2 stops, undercut and 2 s gap in the second stint, 8 lap earlier stop and longer last stint - fine that affected tyres
- Verstappen was even slower on comparable to Vettel's stint strategy and he certainly didn't pull away: 1,3 before the 1st stop http://en.mclarenf-1.com/index.php?page ... n%20Vettel Lost with staying out but pace was real.

0,3-0,4 s behind is not that much and Vettel should focus on his qualifying, safe to say he should have been close to Red Bulls and not behind Raikkonen. He prefers to talk about the car of course, no wonder Allison got fed up with that . Judging from FP2 they are behind RB but I'd be surprised if it's not close in the race.

[GoranF1]

Did Williams and FI get new upgraded PU from Mercedes this GP?

[Sevach]

Did Williams and FI get new upgraded PU from Mercedes this GP?

New ICE of the same model of the old one.

[domh245]

Did Williams and FI get new upgraded PU from Mercedes this GP?

New, but I don't think they are upgraded. As an aside, only Pascal got a new PU at Manor, and the works Mercedes only took new Energy Stores and Control Electronics, but no other PU components.

[lio007]

Available sets for the race:

[djos]

Fantastic 1st lap in q3 by Danny RIC, he's the only driver in the same postcode as the two Merc boys atm!

[ds.raikkonen]

Besides the RB12 now being a match for the SF16-H, I think the drivers are making the difference as well. RIC is incredibly strong in qualifying, VES is almost matching him. VET used to be strong in qualy as well, but it just isn't happening, and he is making RAI look good in the process. Part of the issue can probably be linked to the Ferrari being hard to set up..

That's for both the drivers. If Rai is performing better than Vet, that's the case, not 'he is making Rai look good' that you're on about. His pace was quite strong in Hungary as well.
Why do people have a problem in accepting that Rai can drive as well as anybody out there? I accept his form in the past few years wasn't good, but it is not IMPOSSIBLE for a driver of his calibre to come back. Besides, let the race will be the judge of who's on top of the other.

[ChrisDanger]

Does somebody have sectortimes of Q3?

http://www.fia.com/file/45993/download?token=05hC3iTB

[GPR-A duplicate2]

Besides the RB12 now being a match for the SF16-H, I think the drivers are making the difference as well. RIC is incredibly strong in qualifying, VES is almost matching him. VET used to be strong in qualy as well, but it just isn't happening, and he is making RAI look good in the process. Part of the issue can probably be linked to the Ferrari being hard to set up..

That's for both the drivers. If Rai is performing better than Vet, that's the case, not 'he is making Rai look good' that you're on about. His pace was quite strong in Hungary as well.

Put back Alonso in that dog, he would still drag it further than Raikkonen, making Kimi look ordinary again. I am damn sure of it. Vettel was so used to those planted rears of Red Bulls and made himself look invincible in the qualifying. He doesn't have a car that is to his liking and is struggling. Even Webber looked better than him in the early 2012 when the RB8 wasn't as good in the early part of the year and he couldn't adjust. So, it definitely is Vettel struggling that is making Raikkonen look good.

Those who criticized Alonso for not helping Ferrari develop the cars in the right direction, should slowly be getting some sense about how great Alonso was to drag those dogs and made them look championship contenders. What's worse for Ferrari? They falling behind Red Bull OR Kimi looking better than Vettel.

Why do people have a problem in accepting that Rai can drive as well as anybody out there?

Because, he isn't that good. He is way past his sell by date. Simple.

I accept his form in the past few years wasn't good, but it is not IMPOSSIBLE for a driver of his calibre to come back.

He isn't growing any younger and with age, reflexes tend to get weak, not stronger.

[SunsAnvil]

Raining in Koln today. WIll it rain at Hockenheim I wonder?

[Racer X]

I want Nico to win purely because I want to see a challenge going into the Summer break.

[djos]

I want Nico to win purely because I want to see a challenge going into the Summer break.

Bugger that, I want a Ricciardo win to really spice things up!

[ds.raikkonen]

Besides the RB12 now being a match for the SF16-H, I think the drivers are making the difference as well. RIC is incredibly strong in qualifying, VES is almost matching him. VET used to be strong in qualy as well, but it just isn't happening, and he is making RAI look good in the process. Part of the issue can probably be linked to the Ferrari being hard to set up..

That's for both the drivers. If Rai is performing better than Vet, that's the case, not 'he is making Rai look good' that you're on about. His pace was quite strong in Hungary as well.

Put back Alonso in that dog, he would still drag it further than Raikkonen, making Kimi look ordinary again. I am damn sure of it.

Regarding Alonso, I've said multiple times he is the best out there and probably can drag ANY car, including Hamilton's Mercedes way past its capabilities. So let's not start that argument again.
They have to be judged based upon which team they're in, not on speculation. And Rai definitely has been performing well in the past few races, looking forward to today's race and the ones coming up as well.

[SectorOne]

including Hamilton's Mercedes way past its capabilities.

Physically impossible. That goes for every single driver that has ever existed.